The special election to fill the vacant Minnesota House 3A seat is approaching quickly. The polls open at the Cook County courthouse on December 8 and mail ballots must reach the Cook County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. that day. To help voters with their decision, the Cook County News-Herald asked the candidates three questions. More questions will follow in the December 5 issue.
Q Do you believe nonferrous mining is something that can be done in Minnesota?
. Rob Ecklund: Absolutely. I qualify that by saying we have the finest regulatory agencies and highest standards in the world. These are minerals we all need and use. It is better to have this mining done here, under our strong environmental standards, than in some Third World country with no environmental protections.
. Kelsey Johnson: Yes. In fact, I think Polymet will go though. However, shifting to another project, Twin Metals, that is a very different project in the Boundary Waters watershed. I want to make sure our permitting process is rigorous enough to protect our natural resources. I need to take a look at our permitting process to make sure we maintain our highest standards in the face of new types of mining.
. Roger Skraba: Yes and it will be, it’s just a matter of when. What I’m hoping is that the mining companies strive to develop the technology to not only meet, but exceed, the standards. So future mining projects are also asked to meet those standards.
I would like to see $200 million set aside in a special fund that would collect dividends and which is managed by a public/ private board where stakeholders have a say. Stakeholders representing both pro and con. Some of the dividends could be used by the community for clean water issues. I’d like to see a board make up like that so all views are heard and everything is transparent and scrutinized.
Q Minnesota Power is closing the Taconite Harbor Energy Center in fall 2016. With our small population, this is a huge loss. Is there anything the legislature can do to help replace the 40-plus wellpaying jobs being lost? And, is there anything the state legislature can do to find a new use for that power plant?
. Ecklund: I don’t know if there is anything the legislature can do directly. I’m doing some research on what other states are doing regarding small scale electrical facilities. Maine and Michigan have enacted ‘no slash left in the woods’ policies. In certain areas, General Electric is financing small biomass facilities.
I’ve talked to Minnesota Power—and with Cleveland Cliffs—both of them are open to discussion and that’s a good thing. I think they understand their role in the community and are sensitive to the community’s concerns.
We’re not going to replace the wages of the 40-plus jobs, but we hope we can do something. A lot of these things are concepts, but we need concepts before anything gets done.
. Johnson: This could be devastating. It doesn’t affect just those whose jobs are lost, but there is a ripple effect across the community. These people aren’t buying in the community and it diminishes the local economy.
I am a firm believer that the current broadband buildout is a boon to the economy of our district. I’d like to see more vo-tech options to help people retrain for, and find jobs to replace those that have been lost. But I also see the businesses in Ely and International Falls that have really grown when they’ve had that broadband connectivity. It may be one or two at a time, but we need to keep working to grow these jobs.
From door knocking, I think jobs are the biggest issue in this race.
Regarding the building, I hadn’t really thought about that yet. We’d have to look at finding partners to collaborate on repurposing the building. We could look at a data center, but it’s a huge building. Perhaps there is some way to make some sort of recreational facility. There are lots of things we could do.
. Skraba: A majority of people wanted the coal plant shutdown. Now what?
Is it fair? No. Is there anything we can do about it? I don’t know. It’s private property. Minnesota Power can do whatever it wants to. The only thing the state can do is give them some kind of incentives, perhaps through a tax break.
If you wanted to make it some kind of wood-burning fuel plant or a wood-chipping facility, the infrastructure is there. But who would lease it? I’m not averse to sitting down with them to discuss this.
Q If elected, what is the first piece of legislation that you will attempt to pass?
. Ecklund: If elected, I’m assuming I’d be called to a special session regarding Minnesota’s unemployment for out-of-work miners. That would address the workers at Northshore Mining as well.
Also, I don’t know if I would directly sponsor legislation regarding bonding, but I would certainly work to get the projects in northern Minnesota included. I know the city of Tofte is looking at a language change for its housing project. I’m hoping to work with Senator Bakk on that.
. Johnson: That’s a tough call. There are so many things that I’d like to go after. Bonding projects are probably what would take first priority as that is what the next legislature will be facing. It will be a short session, only 10 weeks, so there will be a lot of work to maximize the success of projects in our district.
Luckily, because I know people at the Capitol and I know how it’s done, I can get it done. We do have some help from Senator [Tom] Bakk, but you need both sides.
. Skraba: That is a great question. I guess I would like to get behind the bonding bill. That would be my first priority at the legislature. We have ATV money; every community has something it is going for.
Right now the GOP controls the house. If I get in there, there is a chance I can do something. If you want to try me out—if you want to try a Republican for a year, give me a try.
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